FerryScanner any good?

[Boxerboy55]

I'm planning a trip to Spain for the first time. I fancy a long ferry from Ireland instead of pounding down to the Channel then pounding through France. Or pounding down from Rotterdam.

I was making good progress using Ferryscanner to book a round trip from Rosslare to Bilbao on Brittany Ferries in April/May.

It fell over at the final point of paying.

My bank sent me a text saying "We need to check some recent activity . . . ."

So I've stalled.

Anyone used this company?

 

[wessie]

My advice is to book such an expensive ferry directly with Brittany Ferries. That way, if there is a problem, you are dealing directly with the operator who have legal duties to pay compensation under EU law (also applies to UK ferries). In all my trips to Spain I have only had one that was delayed due to a storm in Biscay exasperated by the Pont Aven having one engine out of action. The compensation payment was significant and Brittany Ferries paid it automatically. Try that through a booking agent and it gets complicated.

 

[Slipperyeel]

I think Wessie is dead right. But...FerryScanner, I have used a lot and it's all good. Never had a problem with it - that's not to say no one has! But I'd give it a thumbs up generally.

 

[wessie]

I think Wessie is dead right. But...FerryScanner, I have used a lot and it's all good. Never had a problem with it - that's not to say no one has! But I'd give it a thumbs up generally.

I'd use them for a short hop, such as between Greek Islands especially if the local company did not have a decent website. Just having a familiar interface in English can be very helpful where the sums of money are modest and you are travelling close to the time of booking.
Booking a £500+ crossing months ahead, I'll go direct.

 

[Burridge01]

Go direct with Brittany ferries and get the early bird offer.May save yaself a few quid.

 

[MikeS]

I'm planning a trip to Spain for the first time. I fancy a long ferry from Ireland instead of pounding down to the Channel then pounding through France. Or pounding down from Rotterdam.

I was making good progress using Ferryscanner to book a round trip from Rosslare to Bilbao on Brittany Ferries in April/May.

It fell over at the final point of paying.

My bank sent me a text saying "We need to check some recent activity . . . ."

So I've stalled.

Anyone used this company?

Nice idea to go via Rosslare although Plymouth is a similar distance time wise from Scotland and has a direct shorter ferry to Spain which might be cheaper ? The ride through Ireland would probably be more interesting though.

 

[ossa eck]

Just booked direct with Brittany and it was pretty cheap i thought.

 

[ThreeDawg]

Nice idea to go via Rosslare although Plymouth is a similar distance time wise from Scotland and has a direct shorter ferry to Spain which might be cheaper ? The ride through Ireland would probably be more interesting though.

We came back from Spain last year on the Rosslare route. Worked really well, and the ride up to Larne via Dublin was really easy and pleasant.

This year we are doing the reverse - Inverness to Cairnryan (about 5 1/2 hours), overnight there, then catch the midday ferry to Larne and have a leisurely 5 hours or so run to catch the midnight ferry from Rosslare to Bilbao. So much easier than fighting through to horrors of southern England traffic.

We took 15 ferries on the last trip, and as someone else said using a booking site can be useful for shorter hops (we used Direct Ferries IIRC), for longer trips I would always go direct in case there is a problem.

 

[Boxerboy55]

Thanks for all the above. I will take a look at Brittany directly.

Long time since I used them to lug 3 wee kids to a several canvas holidays in France.
How I survived those trips I don’t know

 

[Boxerboy55]

I have now booked directly with BF. Thank you.

Cabin for 4

Web was playing up yesterday.

Round trip ticket in my pocket now - Rosslare/Bilbao.

Just have to line up Cairnryan/Belfast and a string of hotels and Robert’s Your Mother’s Brother.

Fun and games with Basecamp.

 

[wessie]

Round trip ticket in my pocket now - Rosslare/Bilbao.

when are you going? I arrive Santander 24 Sept, home 8 Oct. Heading to the Pyrenees.

 

[glenn2926]

Web was playing up yesterday

Strange you say that. I spent around 1/2 hour trying to book the Hull-Rotterdam ferry yesterday. Didn’t get anywhere with it. Tried again today and booked no problem.

 

[Boxerboy55]

when are you going? I arrive Santander 24 Sept, home 8 Oct. Heading to the Pyrenees.

April - May. Early bird. My dear wife even suggested going earlier than my first idea.
Nice to get pegs in the ground.

Now to play with my favourite booking dot com and GPS planning.

I have to take her on holiday in September. Dubrovnik booked with Easy Peasy Jet mob.
Something to do with a very valuable wedding anniversary